American English Conversations: Lesson 18

Welcome to American English Conversations: Lesson 18. In this lesson you have 3 dialogues to practice, read, translate, pronounce in English, and read along with the video. Please focus and do your best so that you can learn and improve your listening, reading, pronunciation, and communication skills in English. Don’t forget to use the comments section below to share your thoughts and what you’ve learned today.

PART 1 — DIRECTIONS: Read the dialogues below in English, then translate them and read them in your primary language.

Dialogue 22 – Parents’ Night Out

• Joe: Can you get a baby-sitter for tonight?
• Susan:     I don’t know. Why?
• Joe: Well, I thought we could go out for dinner and then go to a movie afterward.
• Susan:     I can call Debbie and see if she’s available. She usually doesn’t like to sit during the week,     but she might make an exception.
• Joe: Well, do that, and then call me at the office if you have any luck.
• Susan:     Okay, but don’t get your hopes too high. It’s hard to find a good baby-sitter these days.

Dialogue 23 –Discussing the Economy

• Gordon:   The economic news doesn’t look good, does it?
• Hobart:    Not according to the newspaper yesterday. I saw a similar report last night on TV.
• Gordon:   I saw that, too. The analysis seemed to be quite realistic.
• Hobart:    I hope they’re wrong. We really need to get the rising price structure under control.
• Gordon:   Well, costs seem to be rising in so many categories that it appears to defeat any efforts at      stabilization.
• Hobart:    That’s my feeling, too. Raw material now costs more. Labor is demanding higher wages and   production costs continue to soar.
• Gordon:   There may be some relief this summer. I understand the price of some foodstuffs will decrease.

Dialogue 24 — Dental Appointment (by phone)

(by phone)

Dental Assistant:            Dr. Katuna’s office. May I help you?

Karen:                    Yes. I’d like to make an appointment for a dental checkup.

Dental Assistant:            Are you one of the doctor’s regular patients?

Karen:                    No, I’m not. I recently moved to this area and a friend of mine recommended Dr.                                      Katuna.

Dental Assistant:            I see. Dr. Katuna can see you next Thursday. Do you prefer morning or afternoon?

Karen:                    Morning is best for me.

Dental Assistant: Would 10:30 be all right?

Karen:                    That would be fine.

Dental Assistant:            Good. We’ll expect you then at 10:30 on Thursday.

Karen:                    Thank you very much.

PART 2 — DIRECTIONS: Watch, read-along, and pronounce with the video below a minimum of 2-3 times. After you finish, let us know what you learned via the comments section below.